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From the Desk of Rabbi Marmon:

Rabbi Israel Salanter (1809-1883) is among the very select group of sages who can lay claim to having created an entirely original approach to Jewish practice. Salanter’s brainchild, known as the Mussar (ethics) Movement, is – as the name suggests – a practice focused on developing one’s personal ethics. Salanter’s innovation was to take Jewish ethics beyond the realm of intellectual study by adding meditation, chanting, and other practices centered around ethical virtues as a means to foster moral conduct in one’s life. Fittingly, Salanter also became legendary for the saintly conduct of his own affairs.

Perhaps the best known among many stories of Salanter’s personal qualities and deeds concerns the cholera epidemic which ravaged Eastern Europe in the late 1840s. Cholera is a deadly bacterial infection which causes the body to purge vast amounts of fluid rapidly in rather unpleasant fashion, to put it as gently as I can. Concerned that the disease would be simply unsurvivable for anyone already dehydrated and weakened by a 25-hour fast, Salanter forbade his community in Lithuania from fasting on Yom Kippur. Even so, he feared that many Jews would ignore his directive and risk their lives in the name of piety. So, on the eve of Yom Kippur, Salanter issued a remarkable reminder.

Mounting the bimah, Salanter stood at the Torah reading table where recitation of Kol Nidre had inaugurated the fast day just a short while earlier, and signaled to the gabbaim. At his silent command, they brought forward a steaming, freshly cooked chicken and laid it on the table before him. As the congregation watched in stunned silence, Rabbi Salanter quietly pronounced the blessing, cut a leg from the chicken, and began to eat. For a few long, slow minutes no sound was heard in the synagogue beside the clanking of silverware and bones against the rabbi’s plate. When he had finished, he closed his eyes and whispered the concluding blessing. Then, looking up again to meet the eyes of his congregants, he finally spoke in full voice for all to hear: “Now,” he intoned, “all of you go home and do the same.”

We are fortunate to live in a time when the transmission and pathology of diseases, be they COVID or cholera, is understood much better than in Salanter’s day. Therefore, I am delighted to say that all those of us in good general health are permitted to fast as usual on Yom Kippur. What we may not do this year is to gather together as a community to celebrate the holidays.

(Continued on Page 6)

Calendar of Events September 8-Sisterhood………………..….6:00pm15-Havurah Vatik………………11:00am18-Erev Rosh Hashanah Srvce..7:30pm

See page 8 for schedule of High Holiday services

October 13-Sisterhood…………….….6:00pm16-Friday Night Service…….7:30pm26-Movie Night………………7:00pm

Regular Services via Zoom* Mondays & Thursdays.…………9:00amSaturdays………….…..….……10:00am

Bingo (Temporarily Cancelled)Thursday…………………………5:30pm

Board Meetings1st Tuesday of Month.…..…..…5:30pm

Office Hours Monday thru Friday.…9:00am-1:00pm

(Office will be closed on September 7th, 10th, 11th, and 28th)

Note: All venues and meetings may be subject to cancellations due to the ongoing Coronavirus crisis. Check weekly email blasts for

cancellations.

*As of mid-August, the building is closed. Services, Hebrew School and meetings are being held on-line. Video and audio can be accessed by laptops, desktops, or tablets connected to the Internet. Audio can be accessed by standard landline or cable phones. Please contact the office if you have not received or have misplaced access instructions.

Weekday minyans will be held at 7:30am when the building is reopened.

The Scroll Congregation Shaara Tfille

84 Weibel Avenue, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866Phone: 518-584-2370 Fax: 518-584-5226

E-mail: saratogajcc@albany.twcbc.com www.saratogasynagogue.org

Serving the greater Jewish community since 1911

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Rabbi Marmon’s office hours: Office hours will be established when Rabbi Marmon gets situated after his arrival in July. Please call the office at 518-584-2370 if you need to contact the Rabbi.

Carole’s Request: Email communications to the office and for Scroll submittals are requested to be sent to the synagogue email address at saratogajcc@albany.twcbc.com . The deadline for Scroll submittals of text is the 10th of the month prior to the next Scroll (i.e. August 10th for the September/October Scroll). Submittal of graphics or graphic requests are requested by the 7th of the month prior to the next Scroll.

Communications • We are trying to communicate more with our members and

friends by email. We have been sending out weekly if not more often, email messages. If we do not have your email address, or if you are not sure if we do, please send it to: saratogajcc@albany.twcbc.com so we can add it to our contacts.

• We have a phone tree that sends out messages from the synagogue. If you are not receiving the messages, please call the office and give Carole your phone number.

When You Need Something • If you know of a congregant who would like a home or

hospital visit, call Carole in the office, who will contact Sunshine Outreach, generously run by Cynthia Flax.

• Call the office at 518-584-2370 if you have any questions about any of our programs.

Memorial Candles & Birthday Greetings • The Congregation sends out a reminder letter with a

memorial candle when you have a yahrzeit for a loved one. We also send annual birthday greetings. Let the office know if you would prefer to not receive candles, or are not receiving reminder letters/birthday greetings.

Remembrance/Dedications • If you would like to honor your loved ones who have departed,

we offer Memorial Plaques in the Sanctuary. They are a permanent remembrance for those who are no longer with us. The cost is $500 per plaque. In addition, one can dedicate a Prayer book to honor a special occasion ($36) or a gold leaf in the vestibule’s Tree of Life ($200). For more information, please call Carole in the office.

Cemetery

The Cemetery Rules and Fees document of Congregation Shaara Tfille spells out eligibility, rights, and fees. It also sets guidelines for use of the building and sanctuary during funerals. This document can be found on our website:

www.saratogasynagogue.org

Click on “About Us/General Info.” Scroll down to the middle of the yellow box and click on “rules, regulations and prices,” or call Carole in the office at 518-584-2370 or Al Kasin, cemetery committee chair, at 518-587-3737 for a copy or if you have questions about the cemetery.

The Board of Congregation Shaara Tfille Rabbi …………………Rabbi Boaz Marmon

Board of Directors Linda Bertrand…….…..……..……. President Pamela Polacsek…..…..……. Vice President Ted Orosz…….……………..….…… Treasurer Deborah Sabin ……………….……. Secretary

Members Skip Woodcock ….…… House and Grounds Eileen Woodcock.………… Youth Education Allen Kasin ………..……………….. Cemetery Howard Hirsch………….……. Gabbi Liaison Robert Katzman ………..…… Legal Advisor Sharon Dunn ……………..… Board Position Philip Weissman….………….Board Position Judith Ehrenshaft………..…. Past President

Committee Chairs Religious ……………….…… Allan Polacsek Membership ……..………..……Seth Rosner Fundraising ………….……….………………… Budget ……………….……………. Ted Orosz Strategic Planning ….….. Pamela Polacsek Sisterhood Liaison. ……. Judith Ehrenshaft Men’s Club Liaison. …..…… Allan Polacsek Bingo Liaison…………..….. Michael Fischer Pull Tabs Liaison ……..….. Carole Polacsek Endowment Fund. …..…… Robert Katzman Web ….……………….……… Michael Fischer Scroll ……………….…..…… Michael Fischer Office Administrator ….…Carole Leakakos

Wanted: Someone who would be willing to work as Administrator of our Facebook

page. If interested, please contact Pamela Polacsek at pamelapolar@gmail.com or

518-339-7774.

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Contributions Memorial Candles Shirley and Harold Schultz in memory of Rev. Joseph SchultzShirley and Harold Schultz in memory of Esther SchultzShirley and Harold Schultz in memory of Rose Marcus MoonblattJudith Ehrenshaft in memory of Charlotta ChudyIris and Irwin Friedman in memory of Mort ZelikofskyIris Jourdan in memory of Moses WeissDenise and Joel Gershowitz in memory of Alice GoldsmithPatricia Bruder in memory of Irene SeduttoCarole and Allan Polacsek in memory of Robert PolacsekSeth Rosner in memory of Miriam Reinhardt RosnerDorothy Deutsch in memory of Margaret GreeneDorothy Deutsch in memory of Regina DeutschHelen and Sid Gordon in memory of Paul ScheuermanDede and Howard Hirsch in memory of Beatrice HurwoodWilma and David Koss in memory of Esther WeinsteinCarol Moore and Stuart Mintzer in memory of Stella MintzerCarol Moore and Stuart Mintzer in memory of Sadie MintzerSondra Silverhart in memory of Samuel SilverhartSondra Silverhart in memory of Sylvia SilverbergMarcia and Marvin Snyder in memory of Abe TabachnickBarbie and Andy Kahn in memory of Eli A. KahnBarbie and Andy Kahn in memory of Steve Halley

In Memory of Roslyn Goldsmith Cynthia and Lenny DeMarco and FamilyThomas WelterSharon and Paul GreenblathWilma and David KossDorothy and Gordon SandersShirley SchultzDorothy DeutschIris JourdanBarbara and Lary OpitzSusan and Philip WeissmanBarbie and Andy Kahn

In Memory of Linda Kahn Carole and Bill LeakakosHelen and Sid GordonIris JourdanEllen and Bob MessingShirley and Harold SchultzWilma and David KossSusan and Philip WeissmanBarbara and Bob CohenSharon Mudge

General Contributions Judith Thomas and Rabbi Josef Solomon with great appreciation and thanks to Linda Bertrand and Mike Fischer for their technological mitzvahsHelen and Sid Gordon in memory of Mindi AronsonDorothy Deutsch wishing Lynn and Harvey Kalish health and happiness in their new homeSue and Allan Littell in honor of Sid Gordon’s birthdayShirley Schultz in memory of Naomi CowanSusan and Mitchell Frost in memory of Dr. Norman Gabelman Susan and Mitchell Frost in memory of Joan GabelmanSusan and Joseph GreenbaumSue and Allan Littell in memory of Jon SabinJudy Zassenhaus in honor of Rabbi Blatt’s service and retirementRonni and Lester Rosenberg in honor of Rabbi Blatt Wilma and David Koss in memory of Naomi CowanLarry Aronson a Cemetery contributionSusan and Philip Weissman in memory of Jon SabinIris Jourdan in memory of Melinda AronsonBarbie and Andy Kahn welcoming Rabbi Marmon

Mitzvah Club 2020-2021 AnonymousRita and Michael FischerJudith and Martin KaplanDiane White and Ted OroszLoretta and Arthur OstrovRoberta Baruch and Jerry Ostrov

Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund AnonymousBarbara and Lary Opitz

A new leaf has been added to our Tree of Recognition honoring Adam Meyer

Rubinstein on his Bar Mitzvah, 27 June 2020, by Jill and Michael Rubinstein

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Please help us to keep our yahrzeit list up-to-date. Call the office at 518-584-2370

with any additions or corrections

The Book of Remembrance form should be returned with

payment by September 1, 2020. Please call Carole if you have

any questions about this.

As our Mishebayrach list grows, we are not sure if some of our

congregants and friends still need to be on the list. Please call

Carole so that we can update our list and keep it current.

Congregation Shaara Tfille sends its deepest sympathy to Deborah

Sabin on the recent passing of her brother Jon Sabin

Congregation Shaara Tfille sends its deepest sympathy to the family of Linda Kahn on her recent passing

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Mazel Tov and Special Wishes September Birthdays & Anniversaries

02 Daniel Cohen04 Allan & Carole Polacsek05 David Kieserman & Judith Craven09 Robert Edwards11 Gordon & Dorothy Sanders12 Rick & Judy Singer14 Sid & Helen Gordon15 Martin Sherman16 Richard Chait18 John Keene19 Lynn Kalish

20 Eileen Woodcock23 Marc Robin24 David Koss24 Howard Stark & Marilyn Shapiro25 Ellen Messing28 William & Carole Leakakos28 Judith Thomas Solomon29 Sophia Nadi

October Birthdays & Anniversaries

02 David Cohen03 Robert Katzman

03 Norman Mann05 Robert & Ellen Messing14 Samuel & Roberta Gottesman19 Andrew Kahn20 Jocelyn Keene20 Pamela Polacsek21 Renee Barr22 Allen Kasin24 Allan Polacsek28 Jerry Grodin & Felice Karlitz29 Joseph Greenbaum30 Samuel Gottesman

Minyan Notes, Etc. by Sid Hello to all members! We are still in need of anyone that can make our minyan on Zoom or at the synagogue when we can. We have to thank all the ladies who help us with our minyans and bimah services. If not for these ladies, we would not have a minyan. You are all very important to us and our shul. Thank you for your service. We do live in strange times. Let’s do the best we can and keep our minyans going. Hopefully we will get back to our shul soon. Take care and listen to what the doctors say, as well as using your common sense. We will be ok P.S. - Say a little prayer to the one above. It can’t do any harm and may do some good.

-With loving memories of my recently departed friend, Joel Aronson.-

A Special Welcome Dear Rabbi Marmon,

We take great personal pleasure in welcoming you to Congregation Shaara Tfille as our new Rabbi and spiritual leader.  Together with all of our members who have met you in person or ZOOMologically, we are truly excited about the future that we envision for our shul.  We wish to work with you and our other leaders to create a new environment here that will make the Congregation an important Jewish center in the Capital District and create a magnet for a growing membership. Welcome!

Judith C. Ehrenshaft & Seth Rosner

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ROSH HASHANAH AND YOM KIPPUR SERVICES

During the past few weeks, both the Board and then the Religious Committee met with Rabbi Marmon and have collaborated to establish a framework for our Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Services. Consensus was reached that services would be conducted via Zoom with a core group of 12-15 people, designated by the Religious Committee, in the synagogue. With the minyan established, we can incorporate all the components of our High Holiday services including opening the arks, taking out the Torahs and reading from them. Sadly, this year, the synagogue cannot be open to anyone else except these individuals. Due to health concerns and government regulations, the building must be cleaned each time a new group enters. This is why we felt it necessary to only allow a very limited number of people into the synagogue.

Everyone else will be able to participate, worship and celebrate the High Holidays with our new Rabbi on Zoom from the safety and comfort of their homes. Our plan will include congregants who can volunteer for reading honors in English or Hebrew. The Order of Service for each day, the approximate time (s) for the individual prayers, and the mechanics of un-muting will be shared in another email blast. As more details are confirmed, information will be disseminated as quickly as possible. 

Given the ever-changing circumstances, everything will be fluid until it happens. Should the COVID-19 conditions worsen again, between now and Rosh Hashanah, we will move to Plan B and host a Zoom service like we are presently doing on Monday, Thursdays and Saturdays.

The following details have been discussed or already  agreed upon: • Using the same group for every service to minimize health risks for everyone.• Anyone interested in volunteering to have a reading honor via Zoom in either English or Hebrew for Rosh Hashanah or Yom

Kippur can notify either Linda (likebertrand518@gmail.com) or Carole in the office 518-584-2370.• Aliyahs must be done in the synagogue, but others may share with someone who will be in the synagogue by reciting the blessing

together.• Zoom links for each holiday will be released a day or two prior to the services.• Non-members will be requested to RSVP by giving their email and home address to obtain the Zoom link.• We are exploring the possibility of live streaming the services on Facebook for observation only rather than having the opportunity

of being interactive via Zoom.• Security will be implemented for the synagogue during all services.• Members may borrow prayer books. Dates and times for pickup will be announced in the future.• Non-members will be asked to provide a deposit to borrow a prayer book. The amount has yet to be determined.  • We will have a Gatekeeper to keep track of the Order of Service to ensure that volunteers who have Aliyahs or honors are available

when needed.• The site for the Tashlich service has not yet been determined. Any suggestions?• The possibility of having the Shofar blowing at the conclusion of Tashlich is being explored. Since these will both be held

outdoors, everyone could have the possibility of attending/participating.

(Continued from page 1 - “From the Desk of Rabbi Marmon:”) For most of us, this will mean experiencing the holiday services over Zoom. I’m sure this comes as a surprise to no one, though it would have shocked any one of us as recently as early March. As our plans for services (as they stand at present) will be described elsewhere in this bulletin, I will not do so here. What I do wish to say about the structure of our service this year is that the Zoom format allows you the freedom to come and go unobtrusively as you need, or even better, to keep an ear tuned to the service even if you must attend to something else for a while. Just remember to keep muted, and to turn your camera off if you’re doing (or wearing) anything you wouldn’t want others to see in the midst of their prayers! Let me put that a different way: if you are someone who ordinarily can’t devote full attention to several hours of services on a holiday morning, whether because of attention span or other demands on your time, I encourage you to try keeping the service playing in the background while you do whatever it is you need, as you can do so without causing any distraction or disruption to anyone else. You might just discover something that speaks to you in some part of things that you usually skip!

It seems to me that in a year when most of us will recite our Yom Kippur confessions in the physical isolation of our homes, and in the spirit of Mussar, there is special value this year in practicing cheshbon hanefesh (introspection) to prepare for the holiday season. Though we can’t spend time in the company of others as we would like, we can instead spend some time thinking about how we’ve treated others in this past year, how we would have liked to be on the receiving end of our own behaviors, and how we ought to treat each other when we can spend time together again. Then, we can pray we’ll have the chance to struggle to live up to those aspirations soon, and may that be God’s will!

לשנה טובה ומתוקה! A sweet, happy, healthy new year to all!Rabbi Marmon

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High Holiday Schedule Following are approximate anticipated times for various "checkpoints" within the High Holiday services. Given the unusual circumstances of this year, some variance is to be expected from these goals. Anyone looking to catch a particular point in the course of services (e.g. Yizkor) would be well advised to join the Zoom a bit early, but not to be surprised if we reach that checkpoint a little late, either.

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Upcoming Congregation Shaara Tfille Raffle Fund Raiser

We are requesting quality items that are not damaged or worn for a

November raffle fund raiser. So far, we have received Lladro figurines and Gary Rosenthal pieces. Items do not

have to be Judaica. Examples are donating a vacation property, artwork,

collectibles or jewelry.

Please call Carole in the office for more information.

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Congregation Shaara Tfille 84 Weibel Ave. Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

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